Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has been formally installed as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland, a traditional title associated with service, leadership and responsibility within the Yoruba nation.
The title was conferred on Sunday, December 21, 2025, by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, during a colourful ceremony at the Alaafin’s Palace in Oyo Town. The event also featured the installation of former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, as Obaloyin of Yorubaland.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, described the honour bestowed on Tinubu as well deserved. He cited Tinubu’s growing influence among young people and his philanthropic activities, stressing that the title goes beyond ceremonial recognition.
“This is not just a traditional title; it is a call to service and recognition of leadership potential,” Ogundoyin said, adding that it reflects core Yoruba values such as excellence, community service and legacy.
Tinubu’s installation has attracted public attention, coming amid heightened discussions about his increasing visibility in national affairs. Although he holds no official government position, he has been a regular presence at political and youth-focused events linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress. In Lagos, speculation continues over a possible governorship bid, though he has not declared any political ambition.
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The ceremony also revived conversations around the authority to confer chieftaincy titles bearing the name “Yorubaland.” In his address, the Alaafin stated that such titles fall exclusively under the authority of the Oyo throne, noting that they are collective honours representing the entire Yoruba people rather than any single town or kingdom.
According to him, chieftaincy titles in Yoruba culture are obligations that demand loyalty, humility and service. He traced the central coordinating role of the Oyo Empire in Yoruba history to pre-colonial times, adding that this authority has been recognised in colonial records, academic works and judicial decisions, including rulings of the Supreme Court.
“Titles that bear the name ‘Yorubaland’ are not local titles. They speak for the Yoruba people as a whole and must proceed from an authority whose reach extends across the region by history and by law,” the monarch said, urging the new titleholders to use their positions to promote unity, cultural integrity and the common good.
The issue of “Yorubaland” titles has previously caused friction between the Alaafin and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, following the latter’s earlier conferment of the same Okanlomo title on a Lagos-based businessman. Although both monarchs later announced reconciliation and the creation of a joint council to foster unity, the Alaafin’s remarks at Sunday’s ceremony suggest that underlying rivalry over traditional authority may persist.
Tinubu’s rising public profile has also drawn criticism. Recently, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka questioned the scale of security escorts seen accompanying him, warning that such arrangements for a private citizen could raise national security concerns.
Nevertheless, Sunday’s installation marks a significant milestone in Seyi Tinubu’s expanding social and cultural influence, positioning him as a notable figure in contemporary Yoruba public life.
